Wondering how to remove yellow rubber stains from linoleum? Read on.
It’s important to know how to keep your floor clean, especially if it’s linoleum flooring. Linoleum is typically long-lasting. However, when it comes to keeping this floor fresh and clean, maintenance is key.
Linoleum tends to yellow over time, especially after withstanding several spills and waxing.
What can you do to keep the linoleum flooring clean and shiny?
Waxing will usually make linoleum floors shiny and bright. However, it also makes the floor susceptible to trapping dust and dirt particles. Moreover, layers of wax over accumulated on the floor over the years will leave the rugs looking old.
Commercially available linoleum cleaners or any cleansers meant for household items can remove the unattractive yellow stains.
Wondering how to remove yellow rubber stains from linoleum? Read on.
How to Remove Yellow Rubber Stains from Linoleum
Linoleum floor is made from raw materials and linseed oil. When the oil is blocked from direct sunlight, it oxidizes and changes color to yellow.
In most cases, you can remove the yellow stains. Here are some ways of removing them:
1. Expose the Area to Sunlight
Follow the steps below to remove yellow rubber stains from linoleum:
- Introduce light in the area since the coloring is as a result of lack of light. Remove the carpet or rug to expose the area with yellow stains to sunlight.
- The amount of time you should expose the floor depends on the extent of the yellowing and how large the area has been covered.
- When the area with yellow stains has regained its original color, remove the rugs periodically to allow light on the covered parts.
2. Use Lemon Juice and Baking Soda
Removing yellow stains from linoleum can be quite challenging. However, a cleaning solution based on lemon juice and baking soda can remove the stains.
Mix the two products to form a paste and apply directly on the marks. For this exercise, you will need a soft cloth, water, and baking soda.
Follow the steps below to remove the yellow stains from linoleum:
- Remove the rugs and sweep away all the dirt in that particular area. Alternatively, use a vacuum cleaner like Vacmaster VBV1210 to remove the dirt. This is the best shop vac on the market.
- Wet the whole area with water
- Sprinkle some baking soda over the area with yellow stains and let it settle for about 15 minutes.
- Use a powder cleansing agent containing bleach to remove yellow stains from linoleum.
- Wipe the baking soda using a soft cloth
- If the yellow parts are discolored too much, you may have to do the process several times.
- After getting rid of the stains, clean the floor regularly with baking soda to prevent the blemishes from reoccurring.
Bonus Tips for Removing Yellow Stains on Linoleum
The modern-day linoleum is vinyl flooring.
Floor mats usually have a preservative material at the back that keeps them brittle and dry. However, they can also react chemically with vinyl floors, leading to discoloration or yellow stains. The stains resulting from this reaction can be tough to remove.
To prevent yellow stains on linoleum floors or storage areas, check the label on the floor rug to ensure it’s non-staining to vinyl floors.
Here are some ways of removing the yellow stains:
Use Water and Vinegar
White distilled vinegar can be used to clean yellow rubber stains on vinyl. Simply apply it on the stain for about 15 minutes then wipe off with a piece of cloth.
For more resistant stains, sprinkle some baking soda on the vinegar and then rinse thoroughly with water after scrubbing.
Use an Ammonia-based Linoleum Floor Cleaner
Any floor cleaner whose main ingredient is ammonia would be ideal for cleaning linoleum floors.
Pour the cleaner on the floor to remove yellow rubber stains from linoleum. Next, scrub the floor with a scouring pad or sponge and then mop off the solution.
However, for the floor to retain its attractive shine, mop the place using club soda. Alternatively, apply a new floor wax coating to the linoleum.
Now you know how to remove yellow rubber stains from linoleum.